Academic Advising
Academic advising varies greatly among institutions and between the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Undergraduates at small, private, liberal-arts colleges probably receive more individual advice and guidance than those attending large, public institutions that admit thousands of new students each year. At many large institutions students may not be assigned a personal adviser at the undergraduate level. If this applies to you, it is especially important that you read your university catalogs and handbooks thoroughly to learn about academic policies and procedures.
As a new undergraduate student, you may be asked to attend an academic advising session with many other students, where you will be given information about the academic system at your institution. Such advising sessions often form part of a new-student orientation at the beginning of the academic term. If you have read the school’s materials before attending the session, it may be easier for you to follow the information being presented during the session.
Take advantage of opportunities to meet with an academic adviser or faculty member to discuss your academic choices. Although the foreign-student adviser usually cannot offer academic advice, he or she can help you to find the right person at your college or university to do so.
Most graduate students are assigned or choose a faculty member as an academic adviser. Academic advisers offer you information, guidance, and advice throughout your academic program. They may provide this information in a group setting with other students or in private sessions with you. Without the advice of your academic adviser, you may take incorrect courses, resulting in problems later. Specifically, academic advisers identify degree requirements and help you balance your course load, so you do not take too many demanding classes in one semester. They can also tell you which classes have “prerequisites” or other restrictions. Your academic adviser may guide and supervise your thesis or dissertation preparation.
Seek the advice of your academic adviser at any time to discuss important educational issues. If you have difficulties in a particular course, your academic adviser can help you find the assistance you need. Some academic advisers are not aware of immigration regulations relating to your academic course load, so you should always discuss academic changes with your foreign-student adviser as well.
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